Whitbread, Ward, Wilbraham and Chris Martin reportedly off in the summer

[Pete Raven 276]

So says Charlie Wyett of The Sun...

[Davo 0]

The question is Pete. Do you believe him or can one of the Archant "journalists" prove this?

The Sun is a rag I wouldn''t wipe my bum with. however it''s always full of half-truths. In this case I can believe that C Martin and Wilbraham will be off. Wilbraham is out of contract and C Martin hasn''t proven he''s good enough.

As for the other two, well they are currently our 1st choice centre backs.

Davo

[BW 0]

Pete shouldn''t this be in the transfer rumors section?

[First Wizard 0]

[quote user="BW"]Pete shouldn''t this be in the transfer rumors section?[/quote]

 

Ouch! [Y]

[a1canary 0]

The centre back situation is an interesting one though and will require some tough decisions in the summer.

We''ve got:

Ayala, Whitbread, Ward, Bennett, Barnett, Martin

Martin is in a tricky situation because he''s ended up competing on 2 fronts where he isn''t considered first choice. I''m sure we''ll keep him because he''s great to have to bring in but i can see him becoming something of a bit part player.

The obvious one for moving on of the others is Barnett since Lambert appears to have him at the bottom of that list.

And if we keep RMart you have to imagine we''ll go with 4 CBs which means another will go. That''s when it gets tough. Ward or Whitbread you''d imagine. Tough on either of them to have to let one go. You''d make Ward favourite to go but with Whitbread of contract who knows?

[CambridgeCanary 0]

[quote user="Davo"]The question is Pete. Do you believe him or can one of the Archant "journalists" prove this?

The Sun is a rag I wouldn''t wipe my bum with. however it''s always full of half-truths. In this case I can believe that C Martin and Wilbraham will be off. Wilbraham is out of contract and C Martin hasn''t proven he''s good enough.

As for the other two, well they are currently our 1st choice centre backs.

Davo[/quote]

 

Yet another poster justifiably slags off the Sun in generality and ignores the fact that Charlie Wyatt is a City fan and has written in the programme.

 

Ask yourself this; would he print anything destabilising for City if it wasn''t substantiated. He''s a journalist but he wouldn''t want to harm the club anymore than Mick Dennis or Kevin Piper would by publishing unsubstantiated rumours.

[Jim Smith 2,652]

I''m really uneasy about the complete silence regarding Whitbread''s contract. I''m not so fussed about the others mentioned although i like Ward and Wilbraham and would quite like to see them stay. Whitbread, however, has been our best centre back this season, has shown he can hack it at prem level and i can''t believe we appear to be risking him walking away on a free or are contemplating not even offering a contract.

Now maybe he''s refusing to sign or making outrageous demands which would obviously put a different spin on things but since nobody at Archant appears to be able to get any sort of answer out of anyone at the club then i guess we will have to wait and see.

If, however, we don''t offer him a contract then i for one will be very disappointed.

Leaving aside next season i would also not be particularly thrilled at playing the last 10 games of this one with 2 centre backs who have been told they are being released. Not great for morale/motivation. lets hope, therefore, that this sun story is all nonsense.

 

[a1canary 0]

Having had a look at the article in question, it actually only says that they are out of contract and that therefore they are UNLIKELY to be offered new deals. It''s pure speculation. Just as likely that Zak could be offered a new deal and Ward goes and Barnett encouraged to move on.

[Jim Smith 2,652]

I would hope that of those out of contract this summer Fox and Whitbread will definitely be offered new deals. perhaps Lambo has banned all contract talks until we hit the magic 40 points mark!

[morty 0]

I personally think that the club are just waiting until we are definitely, mathematically safe (and we will be) before they look at contracts.I think the likely leavers will be Wilbraham and Barnet. Chris Martin has had a reasonable spell at Palarse, but, surprise surprise, has been inconsistent, so not sure there, but I would expect him to go. Also he has been playing an advanced midfield role mostly, and I think we''re fine in that department. 

[AJ 1,377]

I doubt Whitbread and Ward will be going, especially as Whitbread just came out and said he''s happy to stay here! He''s been our rock at the back most of the season, him and Ayala are our best pairing for me.

As for Wilbraham, worth keeping as back up for now, but if he wants to play first team football and are bringing someone else in, then that seems fair enough.

As for Chrissy Martin, I don''t think he has a future here anymore. Championship seems to be about his standard, maybe he can have another crack at the prem in a few years, he seems happy at Palace too.

[pete 375]

Whitbread reticence may be down to his agent whispering in his ear, although a fair performer Zak not pulling up trees, but third level Prem team might take him on and because no fee will offer more dosh, I can see him going to someone like WBA.

 

Martin is this Russell or Chris, Chris likely to be off, Russell a perfectly adequate cover at CB and better than Ward or Barnett, slowcoach Ward to go back to Championship, Barnett likely to be on fringes for next 2 years cannot see LB being on anyones shopping list.

Wilby likely to try to get a 2 year contract, he is running out of years, back to Div 1 probably.

 

 

 

[. 0]

With money in the bank and the ''winning mentality'' no longer a factor, there will have to be sweeping changes. Next season in the PL will be an entirely different challenge if as it seems we manage to stay up.The big issue here is will the owners then back Lambert in spending what''s necessary? If not I can see Lambert''s inevitable departure brought forward.Another point being... has the Lambert bubble burst and is he really the man to take us forward at this level?

[It's Character Forming 1,211]

[quote user="Jim Smith"]

I''m really uneasy about the complete silence regarding Whitbread''s contract. I''m not so fussed about the others mentioned although i like Ward and Wilbraham and would quite like to see them stay. Whitbread, however, has been our best centre back this season, has shown he can hack it at prem level and i can''t believe we appear to be risking him walking away on a free or are contemplating not even offering a contract.

Now maybe he''s refusing to sign or making outrageous demands which would obviously put a different spin on things but since nobody at Archant appears to be able to get any sort of answer out of anyone at the club then i guess we will have to wait and see.

If, however, we don''t offer him a contract then i for one will be very disappointed.

Leaving aside next season i would also not be particularly thrilled at playing the last 10 games of this one with 2 centre backs who have been told they are being released. Not great for morale/motivation. lets hope, therefore, that this sun story is all nonsense.[/quote]

 

I think this season has shown that 4 CBs in the Prem is risky - Ayala, Whitbread, Ward have all had long spells out and CBs are always at high risk of suspension every so often.  R Martin has done a fantastic job as cover but wouldn''t be a first choice CB.  Barnett has come up below par for the Prem IMO so I woulnd''t be surprised if he goes.

 

But I agree that Whitbread especially, and Ward too have done well against Prem strikers so I would be very disappointed if we don''t get them both to stay.

 

I expect Wilbraham and C Mart to be let go over the summer, hopefully with stronger replacements coming in.  I hope the rest of the article is just speculation.

[Aggy 944]

Wilbraham and C. Martin won''t be a big surprise.

As for the defence....Barnett off? Seems to have gone completely off the radar. Leaves us with 4 centre halves, plus Martin.

Next season we''ll start with only Martin who can play right back. So we''re going to want to spend money there, AND it means that Martin is likely to have to play some games at right back - unlikely that one player will play all season at right back with no injuries or suspensions. So let''s class him as only just a "half", and say we''ve got 4 and a half centre backs on the books.

So I can''t see both Ward and Whitbread going. That would mean we needed to bring in at least two centre backs. Which, when we also need to splash some cash on a right back and probably midfield/upfront as well, I can''t see us doing.

Whitbread has been very good this season (and that''s coming from someone who thought he was about our weakest defender last year). It makes financial sense as much as anything to keep him on. Which means 3 out and out centre halves, plus Martin.

Then if we are lining someone else up, get rid of Ward. If not, keep him.

[Aggy 944]

1) New signing, Bennett, Ayala, Whitbread, Martin

2) Bennett, Ayala, Whitbread, Ward, Martin.

One of those two most likely in my opinion.

[Davo 0]

[quote user="CambridgeCanary"]

[quote user="Davo"]The question is Pete. Do you believe him or can one of the Archant "journalists" prove this? The Sun is a rag I wouldn''t wipe my bum with. however it''s always full of half-truths. In this case I can believe that C Martin and Wilbraham will be off. Wilbraham is out of contract and C Martin hasn''t proven he''s good enough. As for the other two, well they are currently our 1st choice centre backs. Davo[/quote]

 

Yet another poster justifiably slags off the Sun in generality and ignores the fact that Charlie Wyatt is a City fan and has written in the programme.

 

Ask yourself this; would he print anything destabilising for City if it wasn''t substantiated. He''s a journalist but he wouldn''t want to harm the club anymore than Mick Dennis or Kevin Piper would by publishing unsubstantiated rumours.

[/quote]

 

As far as I am concerned he has written some unsubstantiated rumours. Thye could well turn out to be true but is now really the best time to be saying that our current centre back pairing will be leaving the club as the end of the season? I don''t think so. If this is true and they haven''t been told what would it do for their confidence?

 

He may be a Citty supporter but he is still a journalist working for a paper that has no integrity and constantly publishes rumours that isn''t basedon fact but come from a "source". Maybe Lambert or McNally should get their phones checked for wire taps.

 

Davo

[CambridgeCanary 0]

You obviously have some inside information to prove these stories are unsubstantiated. Great!!

 

I don''t know either way. Please share what you know and put our minds at rest.

[GJP 79]

Earlier on in the season I said I woudn''t be surprised to see Whitbread leave simply because of his injury problems.

 

However, most of his performances have been so good I would be very surprised if we let him go.

 

But perhaps other clubs are in for him or perhaps Lambert wants someone he knows is likely to be able to play most games - Whitbread has featured in only 16 of our 29 league games.

 

Hard to say about Ward. Awesome for us last season and received high praise from the manager, missed a lot of football this season and has been a bit of a mixed bag since he returned but he was captain for the Newcastle game - which might tell us something.

[Mr. Bump 0]

I''d be really surprised and disappointed if we let Whitbread go

[The Great Drinkell 51]

[quote user="GJP"]

Earlier on in the season I said I woudn''t be surprised to see Whitbread leave simply because of his injury problems.

 

However, most of his performances have been so good I would be very surprised if we let him go.

 

But perhaps other clubs are in for him or perhaps Lambert wants someone he knows is likely to be able to play most games - Whitbread has featured in only 16 of our 29 league games.

 

Hard to say about Ward. Awesome for us last season and received high praise from the manager, missed a lot of football this season and has been a bit of a mixed bag since he returned but he was captain for the Newcastle game - which might tell us something.

[/quote]

It told us that Holt and Hoolahan didn''t start the match - Ward is a liability see the Newcastle goal the one against Stoke etc he does some very good stuff with the ball but as a defender - I''d take Zak every time.

[lake district canary 0]

[quote user="The Great Drinkell"][quote user="GJP"]

Earlier on in the season I said I woudn''t be surprised to see Whitbread leave simply because of his injury problems.

 

However, most of his performances have been so good I would be very surprised if we let him go.

 

But perhaps other clubs are in for him or perhaps Lambert wants someone he knows is likely to be able to play most games - Whitbread has featured in only 16 of our 29 league games.

 

Hard to say about Ward. Awesome for us last season and received high praise from the manager, missed a lot of football this season and has been a bit of a mixed bag since he returned but he was captain for the Newcastle game - which might tell us something.

[/quote]

It told us that Holt and Hoolahan didn''t start the match - Ward is a liability see the Newcastle goal the one against Stoke etc he does some very good stuff with the ball but as a defender - I''d take Zak every time.

[/quote]

 

 

It also tells us that Ward is a main player in the PL scheme of things.   Its funny how some people jump on players when they make a mistake or two. Mistakes happen, but we seem to villify the players when they have - on the whole - been great for this club.     We''ve had just about every player slated on here this season.   Ward is the latest - give him a break.   If you get rid of every player who makes a mistake or two - we''d have no team left!

 

 

 

[pete_norw 0]

Is the Sun owned by former N O T W, in which case More crap. 

[dpit 1]

"Is the Sun owned by former N O T W, in which case More crap."

Considering this was written by a horse, this is actually quite impressive.

[GJP 79]

[quote user="lake district canary"][quote user="The Great Drinkell"][quote user="GJP"]

Earlier on in the season I said I woudn''t be surprised to see Whitbread leave simply because of his injury problems.

 

However, most of his performances have been so good I would be very surprised if we let him go.

 

But perhaps other clubs are in for him or perhaps Lambert wants someone he knows is likely to be able to play most games - Whitbread has featured in only 16 of our 29 league games.

 

Hard to say about Ward. Awesome for us last season and received high praise from the manager, missed a lot of football this season and has been a bit of a mixed bag since he returned but he was captain for the Newcastle game - which might tell us something.

[/quote]

It told us that Holt and Hoolahan didn''t start the match - Ward is a liability see the Newcastle goal the one against Stoke etc he does some very good stuff with the ball but as a defender - I''d take Zak every time.

[/quote]

 

 

It also tells us that Ward is a main player in the PL scheme of things.   Its funny how some people jump on players when they make a mistake or two. Mistakes happen, but we seem to villify the players when they have - on the whole - been great for this club.     We''ve had just about every player slated on here this season.   Ward is the latest - give him a break.   If you get rid of every player who makes a mistake or two - we''d have no team left!

 

[/quote]

It''s the way it works. It''s far easier for some fans to see an obvious mistake than it is for them to praise numerous good bits of play or even recognise them.

 

What gets more praise at Carrow Road; a defender heading well clear an unchallenged ball or a defender winning a very difficult header against a strong forward but only managing to nick the ball 2 or 3 yards away?

 

[The Great Wall Of Tettey 0]

whitbread would be the only loss in my opinion.

chris martin isnt doing much in the championship for a 2nd season in a row,

ward is too much of a liability for me, good last ditch tackler and a decent header, but gets turned so easily and is very slow.

with ayala bennett and whitbread i dont see any room for ward

[Sing up the river end 0]

Why is anyone even taking any notice of this.It''s in the SUN ,always full of s**t

[Davo 0]

CambridgeCanary Said: "You obviously have some inside information to prove these stories are unsubstantiated. Great!!

I don''t know either way. Please share what you know and put our minds at rest."

I have no inside information and looking at the article nor does the author. It''s all just supposition and opinion. The give away is words like "unlikely" and "probable" are the clues. As for the bit about James Vaughan well he''s still under contract and hasn''t been fit, who would buy him?

The whole article reads to me that he had a deadline couldn''t find anything useful to write so he gave three short paragraphs with nothing to substantiate what he is saying. Even his subtitle "Norwich set for a summer clearout" is just speculation. There''s been speculation on this very board about who might leave in the summer as without anyone leaving we have a senior squad of 31 (including Naughton and those out on loan). If we are to improve we need to loose some players to be able to fit them into the 25 man squad. It doesn''t take a genius to realise that if we are to improve our squad we are going to have to let some players leave. That doesn''t mean those players will be our two current 1st choice centre backs.

You seem very defensive are you said "hack"?

Davo

[The Gruffalo 0]

With the exception of Wilbraham I would say that it is utter rubbush.

[The Gruffalo 0]

[quote user="Vaughans Stiff Upper Lip"]whitbread would be the only loss in my opinion.

chris martin isnt doing much in the championship for a 2nd season in a row,

ward is too much of a liability for me, good last ditch tackler and a decent header, but gets turned so easily and is very slow.

with ayala bennett and whitbread i dont see any room for ward[/quote]Lambert and McNally do not agree with you!